The Global Ed Connector

We strive to connect schools and classrooms from around the world. The goal is to provide a platform in which schools (administrators and teachers) can develop relationships through cooperation and the exchange of resources and ideas. Language, History, Math, Science and Art teachers are able to team teach and share lesson plans. They can develop exchanges and study abroad programs.

Administrators can support each other by conducting forums, workshops and site visits to address the many challenges that go along with running a school. Students from all over the world can learn from one another through collaboration in the form of distance learning, exchanges and study abroad.

The key to any good collaboration starts with knowing who to partner with. In teaching, this can be a challenge as the perfect partner might be half way across the globe or in the town next door. Using a platform that can connect teachers with one another provides a solution to one of the biggest obstacles to any collaborative endeavor, it connects those who share a passion for what they teach with others who share it as well.

Antonio Viva, Head of School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts

As a student, one of the most meaningful learning experiences I had was when I studied abroad in England. To be able to sit in a classroom filled with British, Italian, American, and Indian students as we were taught about the World Wars by a German professor opened my eyes to the importance of understanding the value of different perspectives and viewpoints. These lessons I learned as a student inform every class I teach today. In order to understand Islam, for example, it is vital to understand the perspective of men and women living in various parts of the Muslim World. TED Talks and articles are great, but being able to connect students with peers from around the world helps develop a deeper level of understanding and empathy. To me, this is the true value

Doug Litowitz Chair, History Department Vail Mountain School

I work at a bilingual school in Paris whose student body represents about 80 nationalities. This makes GlobalEd a particularly valuable resource to me because an ability to connect with teachers all over the world would enable me to create resources that would better represent my own students. It would also allow me to better understand and utilize the cultural dynamics at play in my classroom.

Lee Hunnewell, English Teacher Lycee Jeanine Manuel

As an advocate working with private schools in every corner of WA State, I have a first-hand understanding of the challenges teachers face when looking to connect with fellow educators and provide an accurate understanding of cultures. GEC will allow teachers easy access to real-world perspectives with genuine experiences for relationship building. Diversity is more than a buzz word amongst the top private schools, it is integral to each schools mission. Global Ed Connector has tapped into a core value our school leaders and teachers strive to provide - real life experience for students while keeping them safe. GlobalConnections also has fascinating research capacity!

Suzie Hanson, Executive Director WA Federation of Independent Schools

Teaching students to be global citizens has become one of the hallmarks, in fact a necessity, of a 21st century education, and what better way to do that then connecting students from across the world. As a history teacher, the ability to provide my students with perspectives different their their own is a central part of my teaching, and GlobalEd connector allows me to do that. Whether discussing apartheid, terrorism, or North Korea, getting viewpoints from multiple sources is essential to reach a greater understanding of the world around us and there is no doubt that GlobalEd connector is an important tool in making that happen.

Alex Haight History Chair St. Andrew’s Episcopal School

I have been a Spanish teacher for nearly 25 years, and have always wanted to have a "sister school" somewhere in a Spanish-speaking country. I am constantly on the lookout for penpals, skype partners, teachers to share ideas and collaborate with, and perhaps to start up an exchange program. GlobalEd Connector is an exciting program that seems like it will be able to do all of the above, and more! It is user-friendly and the possibilities for connections are endless. This is the future of cross-curricular, multi-cultural, global education.